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1.
The house was packed and students from other campuses were all cramped around the spacious place, drinking and dancing and having mindless fun.
Charlie had no idea why he had allowed his friends to drag him to a party an hour away from his own uni, but he ultimately decided that free booze could be worth the hassle. It also helped that Charlie's best friend went to said uni where the party was at, so he was about to crash at his place.
Well, and the fact that…
“Have you noticed that Nick Nelson keeps looking at you, Charlie?”
Yeah, Charlie had to be honest with himself. Nick Nelson was probably the biggest reason he kept coming to parties at Leeds whenever parties at York would be as good as. So of course he had noticed it. How could he not?
“Nick Nelson? You mean, rugby captain Nick Nelson?” The shock was clear in Tao’s voice and Elle nodded.
“The one and only,” she looked to her right again, before giggling. “He’s trying to be subtle, but he’s not doing a very good job, to be honest.”
“I hope he’s not planning on messing with Charlie,” Tao grumbled, frowning in the general direction of where Nick Nelson was standing with his rugby mates.
He couldn’t help but also look over… and he met Nick’s brown eyes immediately. Their gaze stayed locked for a few moments, before the rugby player smiled, a soft and lopsided smile, blushing a cute shade of pink as he ducked his head and his friends apparently made fun of him. Charlie’s stomach fluttered, making him very aware that his crush was most definitely still alive and well.
Damn it.
The thing was, if it was a year ago, Charlie wouldn’t bat an eye and would’ve dismissed the whole interaction. One, because his confidence used to be way lower due to a terrible relationship, and two, because for all thoughts and purposes Nick Nelson was straight.
But now? Now Charlie had found his confidence, having peaked in uni and finally realising he was someone who not only deserved but also could find a guy who would like him for himself. Thank God for therapy.
And Nick Nelson… Nick Nelson was the newest baby gay on campus.
Well, baby bisexual, actually.
But that just made Charlie hyper aware of the fact that all this staring could mean something other than curiosity.
Or at least he hoped it would mean something other than curiosity.
“He’s not planning on messing with Charlie,” Elle rolled her eyes, slightly exasperated. “He looks as if he’s got a crush, not a hidden evil agenda.”
Tao’s frown only intensified as he kept his gaze locked at the rugby group, but then his face was coloured with surprise. “Oh fuck, I do think you’re right. He’s blushing a bit too much to be malicious.”
“Oh I bet he wants to be malicious all right, but in a completely different scenario,” Elle smiled teasingly, and Tao choked on his beer as he laughed.
“You guys do realise I’m right here, don’t you?” Charlie grumbled, raising an eyebrow and smiling ruefully.
“Yeah, we do.”
“We just don’t really care, to be honest.”
“The two of you are insufferable,” he huffed, even without much hostility behind it, then he downed the rest of his drink. “I’m gonna go get another one, do you want anything?”
After his friends’ refusal, Charlie headed towards the kitchen, where a lot of alcoholic drinks were spread around on the island with some others in the refrigerator. He didn’t take long getting one – a simple cocktail of orange juice and vodka because he did not trust the rest of the concoctions there – but as he was leaving the room, his body slammed against a wall.
Which confused him a whole lot seeing as he was not drunk enough for that, but he quickly realised it wasn’t a wall, but someone’s back. And when the person moved, turning towards him with an apologetic smile, he couldn’t help letting out a weak, “Oh.”
“I’m so sorry,” Nick Nelson smiled bashfully, his cheeks once again being a little flustered as his hand went up to rub his neck. “I shouldn’t have been standing in the way like that, but my mates are arseholes sometimes.”
Charlie noticed three of the rugby lads with Nick, the ones that he usually was always with whenever Charlie was around Leeds with Tao and Elle, and they were all pretending to not be paying attention to their conversation, even though they clearly were.
He considered his options quickly.
One, he could excuse Nick and head back to his friends as if nothing had happened.
Two, he could try to strike up a conversation and maybe, maybe make a friend out of Nick Nelson.
Or three, he could shoot his shot, flirt with Nick, and see where that could lead them.
He chose the last option, obviously.
“Nah, it’s fine,” he gave Nick a sorrowful smile. “But my drink kinda got ruined.”
“Uhh,” Nick looked down at Charlie’s perfectly full plastic cup and then looked up at Charlie, confused. “No, it didn’t.”
“Oh it absolutely did,” Charlie’s smile turned mischievous as he dumped the contents of his cup on a large fake plant nearby, not once taking his eyes off of Nick’s face. “And I do think I should be compensated for that.”
The challenge was set and now Charlie just hoped Nick would take it.
“Yeah,” Nick, who had been watching Charlie’s action, bit his lip to hide a smile and nodded in sympathy. “I do think you’re right about that.”
“Thought you might think so,” Charlie smirked at Nick, who glanced down briefly at his lips before glancing back up. “What will you do about it?”
Nick’s lopsided smile was the only answer he needed.
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
They were kissing before the door was even closed, and Nick pressing Charlie against it was the final push for it to get fully shut. One of Nick’s hands was underneath Charlie’s shirt, roaming over his back and the other was up in Charlie’s hair, tangling up on his curls and cushioning his head against the hard surface of the door.
Even as their bodies were completely flushed against one another, Charlie’s hand was clutching Nick’s collar and pulling him impossibly closer, and the other was on Nick’s hair which was surprisingly soft.
Something else that was surprising? How good their chemistry was because boy, this kiss was hot.
“I’m quite surprised you knew of this hidden pantry,” Charlie muttered in the quiet of the small room, when Nick changed his focus to Charlie’s neck.
Nick hummed. “I’ve been to plenty of parties here.”
“Have you?” He shivered as Nick bit his neck, sucking the skin right after. “You do this often, then? Bringing someone over here?”
“Not really,” Nick backed away enough to look Charlie in the eyes. “I don’t usually fool around with people I’ve just met, to be honest.”
“Yeah?” Charlie watched as Nick licked his lips and then all he could think was to kiss the older boy again. “What made you change that?”
“You, actually,” Nick kissed him again, a lingering peck that ended faster than Charlie would’ve liked. “And it’s like… my first time, you know, kissing another–”
“Boy?” Charlie completed, smirking. Something about being the first guy Nick kissed felt way too pleasant.
“Yeah,” the rugby player breathed out, and even in the dimly lit room Charlie could see his eyes were a bit guarded.
“Well then,” he used the hand that still clutched Nick’s shirt to pull the other boy closer. “Let’s keep going because you have a lot to catch up on.”
Nick’s breathless chuckle was the last thing he heard before their lips were slotted together once again.
They didn’t leave that pantry for a long while.
♡・゜゜・．・゜˚ ʚ♡ɞ ˚ ゜・．・゜゜・♡
2.
Nick was pacing nervously around his flat, tidying up his living room for the last time before Charlie arrived.
He had finally caved and after a few weeks of easy going and flirty texting, he had asked the blue-eyed boy out. It was supposed to be a dinner and a movie at his own place, because Charlie had casually mentioned once he didn’t really like eating out at restaurants, and Nick honestly wanted him to be as comfortable as possible.
He was also using the situation to show off his cooking and baking skills. Sue him.
So, when he finally opened his door at half past six, the last thing he expected was to find Charlie’s best friends right behind him.
“Hi,” Charlie smiled, a light blush colouring his cheeks and Nick couldn’t help smiling back.
It was interesting, how they had thoroughly snogged each other senseless the first time they met – to the point of Charlie having more than one hickey – then managed to form somewhat of a friendship, being quite flirty with one another and yet here they were, still blushing in the other’s presence.
“Hi,” he motioned for them to come inside, closing the door right after. “I didn’t know you were all coming.”
“Yeah, I mean,” Charlie suddenly looked unsure, eyes darting between Nick and his friends. “You said it would be a hangout so I invited them? Hope it’s not a problem.”
“Oh no! No problem at all,” Nick smiled as Charlie relaxed and he greeted the other three guests.
He had met Elle a few other times, since she was friends with Nick’s best friends Tara and Darcy, but he had only seen Tao, her boyfriend, once or twice. The other boy, Isaac, was Charlie’s flatmate back in York so that was the first time he was actually meeting him. Nick had absolutely nothing against them but… so much for a date, apparently.
He excused himself to get everyone drinks in the kitchen, needing a few moments alone to compose himself and allow his brain to assimilate the change of events for the night.
When he asked Charlie out, he didn’t realise saying “do you wanna come round my flat next weekend? We could hang out together, maybe watch a movie?” would make Charlie think it was supposed to be a friendly hangout and not a date.
Did that mean Charlie didn’t want to date him?
Was that his way of letting Nick down gently?
It would be just his luck that the guy who was completely his type would not be interested in more than a few hookups.
“Hey,” Charlie’s unexpected voice coming from behind him almost made him drop the beers he had just gotten out of the refrigerator.
He turned towards the curly-haired boy, a smile instinctively forming in his lips. “Hey.”
Charlie approached him, stopping just a tad bit into his personal space. “You sure you don’t mind that I brought my friends?”
“Of course not,” Nick placed one of his hands on Charlie’s hip, pulling him closer until they were flushed against each other. “Your friends seem nice, I don’t mind getting to know them.”
And he realised he was being honest. Even if he had been a bit thrown off by the change of plans at first, Nick was interested in spending time with Charlie’s friends.
“Okay,” Charlie smiled softly at him. “Are your friends also coming?”
Ah, fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Nick had asked Tara, who was also his flatmate, to go stay at Darcy’s for the time being, so he could be alone with Charlie. But obviously that would be a bit weird now, because really, who invited someone for a group hangout when their own friends aren’t present?
“Uhhh, they are, yeah. They must be arriving at any moment, I suppose.”
So now he had to find a way to get Tara and Darcy there as soon as possible and he’d also never hear the end of it.
Great.
“Alright, then,” Charlie gave him a light peck, but before he could actually deepen the kiss, the boy pulled away with a teasing smile. Little shit. “Do you need any help?”
He sighed. “You can take some of the beers and I’ll be right there with the rest.”
As soon as Charlie was out of the kitchen, Nick pulled out his phone.
🌈 rainbow besties 🌈
Please, tell me the two of you can be here like
Right now!!!
Tara Jones
Uh what exactly happened?
Didn’t you have a date?
Darcy Olsson
did he stood you up?
do i need to fight him? 🤺
I truly don’t have time to explain right now
(But no, you don’t need to fight anyone Darce)
Tara Jones
Okay, okay
We’ll be there in a few minutes then
Okay thanks
I truly owe you one
Darcy Olsson
you really do
i was about to get some 👅💦💦
Tara Jones
Darcyyyyy ffs 🤡
Jesus fuck Darcy, that’s definitely tmi
With that settled, Nick got the rest of the drinks, along with a few snacks and headed back to the living room.
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
Tara and Darcy arrived half an hour later, and unfortunately they brought quite the heavy rain with them. Both girls were soaking wet as they crossed the flat’s door and after a quick greeting, they snuck into Tara’s room to find comfier and drier clothes.
And being honest, Nick was a bit calmer now that they had arrived.
As much as Charlie’s friends were super nice, it still felt as if Tao was judging him constantly – and it didn’t help that the younger boy despised Marvel, which also happened to be Nick’s favourite movie franchise – while Elle and Isaac kept giving him knowing glances. It was a bit obvious that the two of them weren’t as oblivious as Charlie. But overall, they were having quite a lovely night and Nick was having a lot of fun with all of them.
He was, however, outvoted on which movie to watch, so that was how he found himself watching It – and absolutely hating every minute of it. Well, okay, not every minute of it since Darcy was literally Tao’s worst nightmare, commenting and cracking jokes at any time she could. And while Nick found that funny and it took away some of his anxiety over watching a horror movie, Tao seemed to have a completely different opinion on that. But it didn’t take long for him to change his mind, though, because Darcy was… well, Darcy and it was impossible not to warm up to her.
When the movie ended and the rain was only getting stronger, they decided to watch another movie. And to Nick’s utter distress, It Chapter 2 was winning their voting.
Upon noticing it, Charlie, who was sitting quite snuggly underneath Nick’s arm on the loveseat, teased him quietly. “Aww, are you scared of horror movies, Nick?”
Blushing, Nick rolled his eyes, but replied begrudgingly. “Maybe.”
“Don’t worry,” Charlie chuckled, and kissed his cheek. “I can protect you from the monsters.”
“Why, thank you,” Nick sent him a sideways look, not hiding his amusement. “Whatever would I do without you to defend me.”
“Now you’re just mocking me.”
“Of course not–”
Nick’s voice got caught in his through when the lights went off suddenly. Silence fell over them, as they were all caught by surprise, and Nick felt the unease that came with being thrown on the dark out of the blue. Especially after having watched a horror movie.
Fuck.
“Well then,” Elle said, from somewhere to Nick’s left. “Seems like that closed our debate.”
“You know what we should do instead?” Darcy said, sounding excited. “Share really hardcore horror stories in the dark!”
Yeah, he was most definitely not taking part in that.
As the rest of them either voiced their agreement or gave their own ideas, Nick got up. “I’m gonna get some… candles,” and then he hightailed to the kitchen.
Rummaging through the drawers in the kitchen in search of the candles he knew they had, but had probably never needed, Nick heard footsteps behind him. And he knew exactly who they belonged to.
“I’m assuming you’ll need protection from those monsters, now?” Charlie asked, teasing amusement clear in his voice as he stopped by Nick.
Nick chuckled, forgetting the candles and turning towards Charlie. Even though it was dark, there was enough light coming from the kitchen window for Nick to be able to look into Charlie’s eyes. “Are you offering to be my knight in shining armour then?”
“I mean, I am a bit small and weak for that, but…” once again, the curly-haired boy got into Nick’s personal space, his hand going up to fist Nick’s shirt, pulling him impossibly closer. “Maybe I can offer you some distraction.”
Nick exhaled, his eyes going down to stare at Charlie’s lips, and he licked his own in anticipation. “Hmmm, yeah… a distraction sounds really good.”
“Thought you might say that,” was Charlie’s reply before finally closing the distance between them, and Nick would’ve been lying if he said he hadn’t been waiting for that kiss the whole night.
He manoeuvred them, pressing the other boy into the counter and then, in a very swift move, lifted and sat Charlie on top of it. As he positioned himself between Charlie’s legs, Nick heard Charlie’s sharp intake of breath, then he felt the boy’s legs closing around him.
“Have you noticed,” Charlie said against Nick’s mouth, pecking him briefly before backing away slightly. “That we keep kissing each other while in the dark?”
“I haven’t, no. But I guess you’re right,” Nick pulled him for another kiss, and Charlie sighed.
“We should change that,” Charlie pulled on Nick’s hair hard enough to tilt Nick’s head and kiss his jaw. “I bet you get really flustered when you’re being thoroughly kissed.”
Nick snorted, feeling all kinds of warm inside as Charlie continued to kiss his jaw and neck. “You wanna know what I have noticed?” Charlie hummed as he sucked in on Nick’s neck. Seemed like he was the one getting love bites this time around. “You are awfully talkative during a make out session.”
Charlie snickered. “You know there’s quite an easy way to make me shut up, don’t you?”
“You’re such a little shit,” Nick rolled his eyes, but he did as expected, shutting Charlie up.
They took a while to notice when the lights came back some time later, but when they finally joined their friends again, Isaac sure did notice their messed hairs and bruised lips. A raised brow was the only acknowledgement he gave them, but it was enough to make both boys blush.
Nick wasn’t embarrassed though. He would take Charlie’s distraction over horror stories any day.
♡・゜゜・．・゜˚ ʚ♡ɞ ˚ ゜・．・゜゜・♡
3.
The tackle was still playing over and over in Charlie’s mind as he sat in the ER’s waiting room. He had been there for close to an hour already, and since he wasn’t a direct kin to Nick, he had no way of knowing if the other boy was fine or not.
Nick had gone to York for a change, because his rugby team was set to play against York’s university team that weekend, and he had invited Charlie to the game. Charlie had been meaning to use Nick’s stayover to broach the relationship topic, but he was still second guessing it, because he didn’t want to mess up the friendship they had managed to form, and now that Nick had been injured… Well, it seemed like a sign not to say anything. At least yet.
The rugby game had started rather normal – or at least, what Charlie thought was normal since he had never really understood the rules and plays – with the stands full of uni students and rugby fans singing their respective teams’ chants. However, it had quickly taken a turn when one of the York players tackled Nick so hard that the Leeds’ captain went down like a rag doll and didn't move for a few seconds. From his seat, Charlie couldn’t see much, but when Nick got up, he was clutching his left side and walking way too slowly to be able to play again. After that, the head coach had taken Nick out of the game, replacing him with another player, and made sure he was sent for a check up at the hospital. So Charlie borrowed Isaac’s car and went after him.
Which, thinking objectively now, wasn’t a very good idea since he was still without a single piece of information and sitting on a very uncomfortable chair.
“Charlie?”
He lifted his head when he heard the voice to find a confused Nick looking at him. Charlie got up, approaching the older boy. “Nick, oh my God. Are you okay? What happened? I’ve been worried sick!”
Nick chuckled, but the sound soon turned into a light groan as he clutched his ribs. “Fuck. Yeah, I’m fine. Just some really bruised ribs.”
“Nothing too serious then?” Charlie looked him up and down, as if trying to see with his own eyes Nick was fine. The blonde boy was still in his rugby kit, which was a bit dirty, but Charlie could also notice a bandage on his arm, from where they might have drawn up some blood.
“Yeah,” Nick nodded, a soft smile on his lips and Charlie sighed in relief. “I’m just sorry our weekend has been kinda ruined.”
“Well, it sucks you got hurt but it might not ruin much, to be honest,” Charlie really didn’t mind if they didn’t get to do anything, spending some time with Nick was enough. Oh, he was really down bad. “Unless you wanna go back to Leeds? I mean, maybe being in your own home would be better for you? In that case–”
“I don’t wanna go home,” Nick interrupted what might’ve been the beginning of a classic Charlie spiral, and he promptly shut up. “I’d rather stay here, with you, in York for the rest of the weekend like we planned.”
“Okay,” they smiled softly at each other, and then Charlie got a hold of Nick’s hand. “Then let’s get you home so you can rest.”
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
Charlie helped Nick lower himself down onto the sofa, and then he fixed the cushions around the boy with more attentiveness than needed. He was very aware he was overly fussing, but he just couldn’t help himself.
“Are you comfortable? Do you need anything? Painkillers, perhaps?”
“Charlie,” Nick grasped his hand, stopping his movements. “I’m fine, really. The meds I got at the hospital still haven’t worn off and it isn’t too serious.”
“You sure, though?”
“Yes!” Nick chuckled lightly, careful not to move his upper body too much. “The doctor said I just need some rest and if I don’t overdo it, I might be able to go back to practise soon and play the next game in three weeks.”
“Already?!” Charlie sat down next to Nick, nervously twisting Nick’s hand between his. “Are you sure that’s even safe?”
“Yeah, it is. Trust me, I’ve gone through this before,” Nick used the hand he was still holding to pull Charlie closer.
Charlie let himself be pulled by Nick, still looking a bit unsure. “If you say so.”
“I do,” making sure Charlie was resting neatly against his good side, Nick sighed contently. “Now, I do think there’s something you could do to make me feel better.”
Recognizing Nick’s flirty tone, Charlie relaxed on his seat. “Is there? What do you have in mind then?”
“It’s quite known that kissing helps to speed up the healing process,” Nick said so matter-of-factly that Charlie had to hold back a snort.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, I think it’s called kissing it better, or something.”
“Does it mean you want me to kiss your ribs?”
“Not my fucking ribs, Charlie,” Nick rolled his eyes, sighing, but then he added with a mischevious smile, “Well, at least not when I’m not able to do anything too strenuous.”
“You are such a little shit,” Charlie felt his cheeks heating up, especially because they hadn’t done anything too strenuous yet but not for lack of trying. With them living an hour away from each other and the fall term nearing its end, their schedules had been a bit too hectic. Which was why they had been anticipating this weekend so much.
It was fine, though. They would have other opportunities.
Nick giggled, the arm that was around Charlie’s shoulders going up so he could cup the curly-haired boy’s neck and bring him closer. “I had something else in mind, though.”
“Hm, did you?” Charlie nuzzled Nick’s nose before biting his plump bottom lip and pulling slightly. “I like the way you think.”
Nick finally closed the distance between them, capturing Charlie’s mouth in a far more salacious kiss than needed, his fingers tangling on Charlie’s curls as he used his grip to hold the boy in place. Charlie soon manoeuvred himself in a way that allowed him to not only make sure Nick wouldn’t move unnecessarily but to also thread his fingers in Nick’s hair, pulling hard as their mouths moved in sync. Charlie let go of Nick’s mouth to bite his jaw, a place he had always been way too interested in ever since they first kissed a few months before.
As he felt the bite, Nick huffed out a breath. “Did you know the last time you did this I actually got a mark? On my fucking jaw, of all places.”
“Oh, really?” Charlie held in a laugh, and decided to bite again but harder.
“Charlie,” Nick whined exasperatedly, but Charlie noticed he didn’t move away. “It was a nightmare to come up with a reasonable explanation to why I had a purple bruise on my jaw, though.”
“I mean, you did get tackled real bad today, didn’t you?” Charlie backed away enough to look into Nick’s eye with a raised eyebrow. “The excuse is already there for you to use.”
“...Your mind truly is something else.”
Charlie raised the other brow. “Is that a good thing?”
“The best, actually,” before Charlie could answer though, Nick pulled him for another kiss, continuing their make out session.
Since Nick couldn’t move much, Charlie pressed himself to Nick’s good side, wanting to get as close as possible. But as they got more and more into it, slowly losing track of time, Charlie also lost his sense of space and well…
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
“Oh God, oh God, I’m so sorry!” Charlie jumped as far away from Nick as he possibly could, startled from Nick’s loud groans – and not the good kind of groans.
The older boy placed a hand on his bruised ribs as he panted, both from the kiss and the pain. “It’s fine, I just need to breathe in for a while,” he sucked in a breath, managing a weak smile. “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea, after all.”
“Yeah, no shit Sherlock,” noticing Nick was good enough to joke, Charlie also breathed in relief. “I’m gonna get something for us to eat then, try not to get more injured, please.”
“Excuse you, you were the one to fucking press into my injury.”
“If I remember correctly, Nicholas,” Charlie stood up and started heading towards the kitchen. “You were the one to suggest to me to ‘kiss it better’.”
“Yeah but then you decided to make it worse, actually.”
Charlie sent him one last dirty look. “Fuck you, then.”
From the kitchen, he heard Nick chuckling. “Not at the moment, Char. I just told you I’m injured.”
He paused. Char?
Sticking his head out of the door, Charlie raised a brow. “Char, huh?”
“Oh,” Nick’s smile turned bashful and he flushed red. “Yeah… well, I mean–”
“It’s okay,” Charlie winked at Nick, not missing the opportunity of messing with him. “It’s cute, you can use it.”
Nick used his good arm to flung a cushion in Charlie’s direction. “Oh, fuck off.”
And as he ducked inside the kitchen once again, he heard Nick’s light chuckles.
Char.
He bit back a smile.
He most definitely wasn’t the only one down bad.
♡・゜゜・．・゜˚ ʚ♡ɞ ˚ ゜・．・゜゜・♡
4.
Going to that party had been a spur of the moment decision, and Nick had only decided on going after knowing Charlie was also gonna be there. Studying for his exams had been taking more from him than he anticipated, and even though he still needed to study some more, he also needed to breathe and allow his brain some rest.
And if that rest came with a bit of alcohol and seeing the guy he had the biggest crush on, then he was absolutely going to take it.
The party was well underway when he arrived with Sai – who he had managed to drag along with him – and before he even got close to finding his friends, one of his rugby mates had managed to shove a beer bottle into his hands and another was trying to give him some shots.
He found Tao and Elle in the kitchen, both making some type of drink, but it was clear they were overly tipsy, since they kept giggling and spilling the liquids. Elle quickly jumped on him though, hugging him tight when she spotted him, and he winced slightly. His ribs were feeling way better, but it had only been a week and he still felt some tenderness.
“Oh, sorry,” she giggled when she let him go and Tao clapped him on his back. “Forgot you had been injured.”
“Nah, it’s fine,” he dismissed the apology. “It’s a bit sore still but much better. You just caught me off guard.”
Nick was offered some of the drink they had made, but he refused, still holding his beer. Then, after introducing Tao, Elle and Sai, he asked exactly what he wanted to know. “Do you guys know where I can find Charlie?”
Tao shot him a knowing look. “There’s some people he knows from his uni here, so he’s at the back garden with them. They were all playing some drinking game when we came inside.”
“Oh, okay,” he nodded, before turning to Sai. “I’m gonna go find him, are you coming?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Nick soon found out that calling the outside back part of the house a garden was a bit of a stretch, since it mostly consisted of a small grassed area and a big deck, where many people were scattered around, with a separate group sitting on the floor. He spotted Charlie amidst that group, sitting near a girl Nick had met briefly at some point but she was basically the only person he could recognise there. They were all sitting on a circle, an empty beer bottle spinning at the centre, which pointed right at Charlie when it stopped, eliciting cheers and laughs.
“Go on, you have to kiss James, Charlie!” The girl right in front of Charlie was saying as he approached them, a plastic cup in hand and a huge malicious grin in her lips.
“And it has to be a real kiss,” a guy with pink and purple hair to her left said, and the two of them high-fived. “James won’t mind it, will you James?”
The boy who Nick believed to be James, smiled shyly. “Not at all.”
And… Well, Nick knew how these games worked. He knew what was about to happen and he also knew he had zero to no interest on watching his boyf–
Whoa.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
He was definitely not expecting to be hit with the B bomb like that. Yes, he had more feelings for Charlie than a casual… What even were they?
Casual hookup? Nah, not really, because they were way too good of friends for that.
Boy he would kiss anytime he had a chance and who also happened to be a friend?
Fuck, no wonder his brain decided to conjure up the boyfriend label. They were basically boyfriends… except they hadn’t labelled it yet.
And that thought made him hightail out of there even faster. He really didn’t want to have that realisation and watch Charlie kissing another boy at the exact same time.
He entered the house back again, and he only noticed Sai was still with him when he clicked his tongue. “Wasn’t that your boyfriend back then?”
“He’s not really my boyfriend though,” Nick replied, frowning because that just felt like adding salt to injury.
“Hm… Alright. And why?” Sai tilted his head to the side, curiously watching Nick, and his glasses reflected the low light of the room, making his eyes glint unnaturally. “I mean, you two already act like boyfriends. The boy literally took care of you last weekend when you got hurt!”
“We just… haven’t talked about it yet.”
Sai looked at him blankly. “Well, then the two of you are stupid.”
And with that, Sai turned on his heels and left Nick alone.
He sighed. Now was a great time to get really started on that alcohol break.
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
Almost an hour and a half after being left by Sai, Nick was once again in the kitchen, rummaging through the freezer to see if he could find something to be used as an ice pack for his ribs. His rugby mates had convinced him to play pool, and the constant movement of his upper body to hit the balls, paired up with the constant drunk clap on his side whenever he pocketed a ball had gotten his already sore ribs even more sore.
He really needed to remember not to overdue himself if he wanted to make it into the next game.
Nick managed to find a pack of frozen peas – which also seemed to be there for quite some time actually – and as he closed the freezer’s door, he was startled to find Charlie on the other side.
Charlie eyed the peas curiously before looking back up at him. “Thought you said you would find me once you got here?”
“Uhhh, I did find you, but you were busy with some… friends,” Nick played with the frozen pack in his hands and Charlie raised a brow.
“When has that ever stopped you before?”
“Well… You seemed like in the middle of something,” some people entered the kitchen, heading for the refrigerator and Nick moved out of the way, getting closer to where Charlie was leaning on the counter. All the while Charlie was looking at him blankly, so he added grumply. “You were about to kiss some guy named James or whatever.”
Charlie crossed his arms, biting back a smile. “Hmmmm, am I sensing something like jealousy, Nicholas?”
Nick scoffed. “I’m not jealous.”
“Alright, then.”
A beat of silence… and then. “Did you kiss him, then?”
“I thought you weren’t jealous.”
“I’m not,” Nick gave up on the frozen peas, not even caring about his sore ribs anymore, throwing them on the counter. “I’m just… curious.”
Charlie frowned, a puzzled look on his face. “Curious about what, exactly?”
“Who is the better kisser, obviously.”
A smile slowly appeared in Charlie’s lips as he stared unwavering at Nick. A smile that, objectively, Nick already knew as the ‘I’m about to be a menace’ smile, and still, he did not anticipate the answer that came out. “James, obviously.”
“What do you mean, obviously?”
“Well, it’s been a hot minute since we last kissed, hasn’t it?” Much like the first time they met, Charlie’s eyes were shining with an unspoken challenge. “I might’ve forgotten how you kiss.”
And Nick was an athlete, wasn’t he? He liked a good challenge and he didn’t back away from a worthy one. And Charlie was definitely a worthy one.
“Luckily for you, I don’t mind reminding you of that,” then he fisted Charlie’s jumper and pulled the younger boy for a kiss.
They clearly were in public and not in a hidden pantry or in his own kitchen, so they weren’t as daring as they would’ve been in that scenario. However, Nick still held Charlie tightly against his body, the hand that had pulled him close going up to cup the boy’s jaw, tilting it enough to change the angle of their kiss. And then Charlie was licking into his mouth, fingers burying themselves into Nick’s hair and pulling in that way he knew Nick liked. He groaned.
Charlie backed away slightly and Nick took the opportunity to bite his jaw for a change. “I didn’t kiss him, you know?”
Nick paused. “You didn’t?”
“Nope,” Charlie was looking into his eyes now. “Told them all there was… someone and I wouldn’t do that to him. To you.”
“Oh,” Nick’s mind was reeling with thoughts and possibilities and meanings, but mostly, that he and Charlie always seemed to be on the same page. He smiled. “I wouldn’t do that to you either. Nor do I want to, to be honest.”
“Good, and neither do I,” Charlie returned the smile. “Now you can fully stop being a mopey jealous idiot and kiss me again.”
“I’m not being a mopey–” he started, but Charlie slotted their lips together again, effectively shutting him up.
Not that he would complain.
As they kissed rather leisurely, he heard someone stepping into the kitchen and the refrigerator’s door opening.
“Well, now it’s quite understandable why Charlie wouldn’t kiss James,” he heard a girl’s voice say, and he briefly recognised as the one who had dared Charlie to do just that.
“Yeah, I mean,” another voice, a male one this time, said. “Nothing against James, he’s quite cute, but… I also wouldn’t trade Nick Nelson.”
It was impossible to hold back a laugh then, so he and Charlie stopped kissing long enough to giggle quietly. Whoever had been in the kitchen with them had left as quickly as they had come in, but it had momentaneously ruined the mood.
He watched Charlie’s blue eyes shining bright as he giggled and Nick kissed his left dimple.
He wouldn’t trade Charlie Spring either.
♡・゜゜・．・゜˚ ʚ♡ɞ ˚ ゜・．・゜゜・♡
5.
Being back home for the Christmas holidays was weirder than normal this time. Charlie had been noticing that the longer he spent living by himself at uni and taking care of himself the way he saw fit, the harder it was to get back under the watchful gaze of his overbearing mother.
Granted, it wasn’t as bad as it used to be when he was in school, and she actually allowed him more freedom now that he was a uni student, but it was still annoying having to inform her of his plans. Just the other day, as he was leaving to meet Nick at the park, he had spent over ten minutes explaining to her who Nick was, what was the nature of their acquaintance, and why she had never heard of him before.
Because yeah, it turned out Nick was also from Kent, and lived quite close to Charlie, actually – to the point that they could easily walk to each other’s homes or meet halfway in the park, where they usually went to walk Nick’s dog, Nellie.
And then there was the stressful Christmas dinner with his family. Charlie liked his relatives, he really did. But it was just… frustrating how they just couldn’t fully grasp the concept of an eating disorder, often thinking that he should be healed already instead of understanding that it was something he would have to deal with his whole life. So, when the family finally left – earlier than intended because his abuelo was already napping on the sofa – and he could finally head back to his room, he let out a relieved sigh.
That turned into a frown as soon as he saw the text that waited for him on his phone.
nick nelson 🏉🖕🏻
Can you talk right now?
Charlie knew Nick had been dreading that year’s Christmas dinner because both his dad and brother would be in attendance, and he had a rocky relationship with both of them – for different reasons. His dad was distant, living in France for most of Nick’s life and never really trying to spend time with his sons and his brother… Well, David was a homophobic piece of shit basically, and he had been even worse than usual after finding out Nick was bisexual.
Noticing the text had been sent just five minutes ago, Charlie hurried to answer.
i can, yeah
is everything okay?
nick nelson 🏉🖕🏻
Not really
FT?
yeah of course
Not even ten seconds later, his phone vibrated with an incoming FaceTime call and he accepted it right away.
Nick appeared on his screen looking slightly dejected. He was half-sitting half-lying on his bed, resting his back on a bunch of pillows and cushions and Charlie could also see part of Nellie’s head as she had it placed on his chest.
“Hey,” Charlie sat on his own bed, kind of copying his position but with fewer pillows. He rested his phone on his chest, holding it up with one hand.
Nick sighed. “Hi.”
“Do you wanna talk about whatever happened or do you want some distraction?”
He was quiet for a few seconds before sighing again. “Well… for starters, my dad didn’t come. Which obviously wasn’t much of a surprise considering everything, but still sucked. Then my brother found that picture from that movie night at my place where I had my arm over you, so he decided to be fucking insufferable about it with passive aggressive comments the whole night, mainly when we were alone, but then I broke down and lashed out on him, effectively ruining dinner and Christmas for everyone–”
“Okay, let me stop you there because if someone ruined dinner it was your asshole brother and not you.”
“Yeah, but the one screaming at him ‘to stop being such a twatwaffle wanker’ at the dinner table was me and not him.”
Charlie stared blankly at Nick for a few seconds and then both boys dissolved into a fit of laughter, starting Nellie.
“I cannot believe you called him a wanker in front of your grandparents!”
Nick groaned as he petted his dog’s head in an apology. “Jesus, it was so fucking mortifying. Even my mum was gobsmacked.”
“It was deserved though, he shouldn’t be getting into your business anyway.”
“I know, I just… It’s so frustrating having to be this guarded whenever he’s around,” Nick sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. “And I usually don’t fight back because I know it hurts mum but like, I couldn’t stay quiet when he started being disgusting about yo– me.”
Charlie raised a brow but decided not to comment. “What happened afterwards, though?”
“Well, I said I was sorry for my words but not for calling David out and then left the table.”
“Quite the dramatic exit, I see, then,” he joked, and was satisfied to see Nick crack another smile. “At least he won’t be there much longer, will he?”
“Thankfully, he leaves in the morning,” Nick rolled his eyes. “He’s heading to France with his girlfriend for the New Years.”
“Still cannot understand how your brother’s got a girlfriend.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Anyways, now to more interesting matters,” Charlie smirked, ready to be a little shit again. “You took the picture with you back home, did you?”
His smile grew as he watched Nick blushing. “I mean, it is a polaroid picture, Charles.”
“I know it is, Nicholas,” Charlie playfully rolled his eyes. “But I think it’s cute you brought it with you.”
Nick was quiet for a few seconds, and Charlie worried he might’ve upsetted him somehow, but then Nick said. “I kinda like having a physical reminder of this little friend group I ended up with, you know? I mean, I love the rugby lads, but for the longest time Tara was really the only one who understood me and now–”
“Now you have more people that are just like you,” Charlie completed for him, smiling softly.
Nick returned the smile. “Yeah. Tao notwithstanding, of course,” they shared a laugh at that. “But it’s nice. Really nice.”
“I’m glad we all found each other.”
“Yeah, so am I.”
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
tao xu 🎬
can you make sure nick doesn’t forget to bring the cupcakes he promised?
…
sure, but like why me?
tao xu 🎬
because i assumed you would be coming together?
why though?
tao xu 🎬
am i wrong? 🤨
well, no
but like i don’t get it
tao xu 🎬
charlie
stop being stupid
i’m not!
i honestly don’t get it
tao xu 🎬
the two of you have been joined by the hip since you met each other
and you share everything when we’re all together
which like, it’s fair since he’s your boyfriend and all
okay when you put it like that……..
but he’s not my boyfriend though
we haven’t labelled anything yet
tao xu 🎬
oh the stupidity is also shared then
okay noted
Charlie frowned down at his phone as he stopped at Nick’s front door; he could already hear Nellie on the other side, the dog probably having heard his footsteps. He had to give it to Tao, from an outside perspective, it did look like Nick and Charlie were boyfriends.
And to be very fair, he also had to admit it was getting harder and harder not to think of Nick as his boyfriend. But he didn’t want to assume they were anything serious before talking to Nick first. It didn’t seem fair, especially considering they tried to always be honest with each other. And also, well…
As much as Charlie was much more confident nowadays, he couldn’t help the small flicker of uncertainty that would creep in the back of his mind, making him doubt that Nick would actually want to date him and then he’d lose a very good friend.
And the boy he had liked kissing the most.
Sighing, Charlie decided to think about it all later, finally ringing the doorbell. It was New Year’s Eve, they were all heading to Tao’s house for a small get together and even Darcy, Elle and Isaac had come down to Kent to visit and ring the new year with them. Honestly, it still blew Charlie’s mind that both Nick and Tara were from the same place as he and Tao but none of them had ever met before.
Nick opened his door, smiling and looking ready to leave… and also empty handed.
“Where are the cupcakes???”
“Oh fuck,” Nick ducked inside again, rushing to the kitchen and Nellie took the opportunity of the open door to jump on Charlie.
“Hi, sweetie,” Charlie petted her as she rested her front paws and head on his chest, tail wiggling in excitement. He gave her a quick smooch on the head and that was how Nick found them.
“Do you wanna take Nellie with you to the party?” He said sarcastically, even if his eyes were soft with fondness. “Clearly I’m intruding.”
“It’s a tough decision, but I don’t think Nellie would enjoy the party too much.”
“Well, at least it was a tough decision, right,” Nick rolled his eyes as he also petted Nellie goodbye, before ushering her in and locking his door.
It didn’t take long for them to get to Tao’s since it was just a fifteen minute drive. Tao’s house had been chosen for their little party because his mum had travelled to China earlier in the month to visit part of their family, but since she was only coming back in late January and Tao had to be back at uni soon, he had given up on going with her that time. And having an empty house for them to drink and enjoy their night was too good of an opportunity to let it go to waste.
They had been the last to arrive, and Darcy was already very well ahead in her path to being quite drunk.
Tao gave him a sideways look when Charlie handed him the cupcakes. “Shut up.”
“Didn’t say a thing.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “I’ve known you since we were eleven, you don’t need to say anything.”
“That sounds like a you problem though, doesn’t it?”
And then Tao got his beer, a cupcake, and left the kitchen with a stupid grin on his face.
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
“I don’t really care exactly where we are, I just wanna pocket my midnight kiss from my gorgeous girlfriend,” Darcy threw herself on the sofa next to said girlfriend and she pecked Tara’s cheek. “It’s our first New Years, you know.”
Tao sighed. “Yes, you have mentioned that around three hundred times just tonight.”
“Well, it's true,” Darcy shrugged. “And I never had a midnight kiss, so I’m excited. Sue me.”
Elle shook her head. “I feel like the backyard is the best option. We can sit on the garden chairs, and it’s closer to the kitchen so we can just head right back in if we get too cold.”
It was nearing midnight and they were all trying to decide where they would be watching the fireworks from, because with Tao’s street being on a small hill, they would have a clear view no matter where they were. However, Charlie’s preference was towards the guest room’s balcony.
The problem?
He didn’t want the whole group there, just… Well, Nick. He also wanted that midnight kiss, after all, but he didn’t want an audience.
So when everyone decided on the backyard and started heading there with drinks and snacks, Charlie casually stayed behind, also halting Nick’s advances. As soon as everyone was out of sight, he grabbed a confused Nick’s hand and dragged him along to the second floor.
“Charlie, where are we going?”
“To the guest room’s balcony,” he replied as they reached the landing. “The view is much better and we’ll be alone.”
“My, my,” even though Nick’s tone was teasing, Charlie noticed he blushed. “I should’ve realised your intentions were anything but innocent.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Absolutely not.”
They reached their destination and Charlie silently closed the door of the balcony behind them. He could hear their friends in the backyard right below them, but just as he wanted, they couldn’t be seen. And when Charlie leaned on the railing, Nick stopped behind him, hugging his waist.
“It’s also our first New Years, you know,” He murmured near Charlie’s ear, and Charlie turned around on his arms to be facing him.
“It has come to my attention, yeah.”
Below them, Darcy screamed. “One minute!!”
“Isn’t it said that whenever you kiss someone at midnight, it means you wanna keep kissing them the rest of the year?” Nick’s voice was still a murmur, and Charlie noticed the other boy’s eyes going down to his lips.
Charlie bit back a smile as everyone started the countdown. “Yeah, I’ve heard of it. Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
5… 4… 3…
“It really does,” Nick replied and then he ducked his head and slotted their lips together. The sudden movement made Charlie’s back bend slightly backwards, and he took one of his hands up to Nick’s hair and the other to his jaw, using that one to help deepen their kiss.
2… 1.
“Happy New Year!’
It was quite poetic really, that the fireworks came in as soon their tongues met and Charlie felt goosebumps breaking down his arms and spine.
Nick backed away enough to say, “Happy New Year, Char.”
“Happy New Year, Nick,” Charlie smiled at the boy then pulled him down again for another kiss.
It briefly came to his mind that they went upstairs to watch the fireworks and that’s precisely the thing they were not doing, but in reality he couldn’t care less.
And really hoped he’d get to kiss Nick for the rest of the new year… and many more.
♡・゜゜・．・゜˚ ʚ♡ɞ ˚ ゜・．・゜゜・♡
6.
Charlie Spring 💛
i’m nervous
it’s our first time playing in a pub this popular
I’m sure you’re gonna be amazing
I mean, you’re really good at the drums
And I’ve seen you practising
Charlie Spring 💛
objectively, i know you’re right
in reality, i’m still freaking out
anyways, are you guys here yet?
Yeah, we just met Isaac by the bar
We’ll get some drinks and head to the front
Charlie Spring 💛
okay
see you later then 💛
Good luck, Char 💙
The True Colours pub was packed and Nick could feel the energy of the waiting crowd. Even though Charlie’s band wasn’t famous by any means, live music was still live music and everyone was hyped for it. It helped that they were a rock music cover band, so people knew to expect good music to be played.
Nick had gone to York with Tao, Elle, Tara and Darcy, being made their designated driver even though they were all supposed to stay in Charlie and Isaac’s flat. Not to mention that they wouldn’t all fit in his tiny car; it was already a miracle they had been able to fit Tao and Elle’s long legs into the back seat.
The lights dimmed as the band got on the stage under loud cheering from the patrons. Nick knew the front girl, Sahar, who was a good friend of Charlie’s, but he didn’t know the other two very well, only knowing they were called Aled and Francis.
The Rainbow Alliance was created when Charlie and Sahar decided they wanted an outlet for their passion for music. They didn’t have intentions of ever going pro, but they enjoyed being able to play their favourite songs and feel the warmth of a receptive crowd.
Sahar, with her electric guitar already hanging from her neck, stood in front of the mic and the first few notes of Everlong, by Foo Fighters came on. Even Nick, having to music ability whatsoever, knew that song to be the perfect start for their set. And that was when the lights on top of Charlie’s drum kit came on, and he could finally get the first glimpse of his b– of Charlie.
It was still winter, but due to the warm interior of the pub, Charlie had opted for a black knitted sleeveless vest that just accentuated his lithe arms and Nick knew Charlie was most definitely also wearing his favourite black skinny jeans and Doc Martens. And when he looked up and their eyes met, Nick realised his eyes were traced with eyeliner.
Fuckfuckfuckfuck.
“Oh, you’re in trouble, aren’t you?” Tara shouted in his ear over the music, and he noticed a small teasing smile on her lips as he took his eyes from Charlie long enough to send her a dirty look.
“Big trouble, yes.”
“Are you finally doing something about it?”
Nick turned back towards the stage to watch Charlie starting the beat of another song, curls bouncing back and forth on his head, cheekbones shining because of course he also had applied some glitter on there and a smug smile on his lips. He was mouthing the words along with Sahar, and when they reached the lyric “I noticed your eyes are always glued to me”, he looked up, staring straight into Nick’s eyes… and winked.
Nick chuckled, even as he felt his cheeks getting hot.
Yeah, he was finally going to do something about it.
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
It was official. Nick had a stupid ginormous crush on drummers.
Well, on only one drummer actually, but still.
The Rainbow Alliance had played a really good set, alternating between some songs with the original beat, like We Will Rock You – that basically made the whole pub clap and stomp their feet accordingly – and some alternative versions like My Hero, that even though still had a pretty good drum solo, they had managed to turn it into a rock ballad that had people swaying in pairs around the room.
After that, the group managed to snag a booth near the dance floor – that was now filled with people dancing to a DJ that had taken over the stage – while they waited for the band to come out, with the snacks and drinks they had ordered.
Nick had quickly gone to the loo, before heading to the bar to order whatever non-alcoholic drink that would strike his fancy. As he was waiting for the bartender and deciding between lemon iced tea and some mocktail, a couple by his left moved and he was able to pick up the conversation between two guys… one of them whom he recognised right away.
“Aw, come on,” one of them was saying, his brown hair and tall lean body being the only things Nick could notice since he was leaning on the counter and had his body angled towards the other guy. “It’s just one drink. Let me buy you this one drink and then we see where it takes us.”
Charlie rolled his eyes, not even looking at the guy. “And I already told you I’m not interested.”
“I’ve had my eyes on you since you were playing on stage. You’re hot,” the guy leaned closer to Charlie, who casually but purposefully backed away. “I’m hot. And I bet I can make you feel reeeeal good.”
“Yeah, right,” Nick couldn’t help the snort that came out of him when Charlie himself snorted in a very dismissive way. “Again, I’m not interested and I’m also not here alone, so you really should stop bothering me. It’s not gonna happen.”
“You're here with someone and they left you alone? Looking like this?” He made a move to touch Charlie’s shoulder and seeing Charlie recoil was enough to make Nick snap out of this trance to step in.
“Don’t touch me,” Charlie said at the same time Nick stepped closer to them, intentionally placing himself between the two of them.
He placed an arm around Charlie’s waist, pulling him closer. “Hey babe,” he kissed Charlie’s head, then he raised a brow toward the other guy, who had straightened himself up. “Everything okay?”
Before Charlie could answer though, the guy looked Nick up and down, narrowing his eyes and trying to look threatening. Oh, he must have a death wish. “And you are?”
Looking as unimpressed as he could, Nick took his arm from Charlie’s waist to throw it around his shoulders and Charlie rested his whole body on Nick’s side. “The boyfriend.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh,” it was Nick’s turn to look him up and down and he noticed the guy backing away. “And honestly, I shouldn’t even need to step in. You should have left as soon as you heard a no, dipshit.”
“Listen–”
He was luckily interrupted by the bartender, who had seemingly decided to – finally – deliver Charlie’s drink, who got his drink in one hand, Nick’s hand with the other and the two of them walked away without sparing the other guy another glance. Nick thought they were heading back to their friends, but Charlie took a turn around a group of people, stepping through a door that led them to a backstage corridor.
He stopped near one of the many doors, turning to Nick, and finally allowing Nick to fully take in his appearance. And even in the dimly lit corridor, the way Charlie’s blue eyes contrasted against the black eyeliner and his cheekbones shined with the glitter took Nick’s breath away.
Which Charlie surely noticed, because he smiled cheekily before saying. “Boyfriend huh?”
And oh well.
Truth was, Nick hadn’t even thought about what he was saying to that dick, he had just opened up his mouth and gone with it. But that was what made it all the more real, because Nick had been thinking of Charlie as his boyfriend for quite some time now, and the only thing actually stopping him from doing something about it had been his stupid brain scaring him from a possible rejection. Which in hindsight, really was stupid since they already behaved like boyfriends.
So just like he had said to Tara, he decided to do something about it.
“Yeah, if you want to,” even with his resolveness, his voice was still unsure and he scratched his neck. Charlie didn’t reply but his eyes did soften, so Nick continued. “I just… already see you as my boyfriend, to be honest. And let’s be real, we haven’t been just friends since day one, and we do act a lot like a couple, so in my mind… well, you’ve pretty much always been a non-official boyfriend.”
Charlie smiled, the hand that wasn’t holding his drink going up to the nape of Nick’s neck, softly playing with his hair. “I have a feeling we’re the only ones still scared to actually call this thing between us by what it really was: an official relationship,” he shook his head slightly exasperated. “I mean, I talk more to you, who lives an hour away, than with Isaac who literally lives with me. And quite frankly, I don’t have the habit of kissing my friends in the way we have been kissing.”
Nick snorted out a laugh. “Well, thank God for that. It would be slightly weird to be jealous of Tao.”
“You are a dork.”
“Your dork of a boyfriend, though… right?”
Charlie pulled him down, pressing their lips together and murmuring a quiet, “Yes,” against his lips before effectively kissing him.
It was a bit hard in the beginning, because Nick couldn’t just stop smiling. But then Charlie pulled at his hair, making him groan and changing the angle of their kiss and all playfulness left Nick as quick as the sigh he let out.
He pressed Charlie on the nearby wall, hugging him close with both of his arms, and Charlie’s hand buried itself even more into his hair. Letting go of his lips, Charlie changed his focus to his jaw, something that honestly had already become their thing, kissing and biting softly on the skin.
Nick exhaled, licking his lips. “I cannot believe we ended up having this conversation in the back of a pub instead of, I don’t know, on a date like a normal couple.”
“Nick,” Charlie giggled. “When have we ever been a normal couple?”
“That’s true,” he giggled slightly out of breath when Charlie sucked on the spot his jaw met his neck. “Also, I’m making out with the fit drummer from The Rainbow Alliance after their concert. That’s pretty hot.”
“And the fit drummer also happens to be your boyfriend,” Charlie let go of Nick’s neck to rest his head on the wall behind him, smiling.
Nick sighed. “He also happens to be my boyfriend, yes.”
Then he allowed Charlie to pull him down by his shirt for another kiss. They would have to find their friends soon, but for now, Nick was gonna be kissing his boyfriend some more.
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
🌈 rainbow crew ❤️
Darcy Olsson
did you guys know
that these two babbling baboons
have only JUST NOW
become boyfriends?
Elle Argent
Are you serious???
Darcy Olsson
as a HEART ATTACK
Tao Xu
i’ve told you this, the stupidity is shared between them
therefore no one gets left behind
Charlie Spring 💛
wow tao, your love really hits different
like a freight train i’d say
Tara Jones
officially boyfriends then?
finally?
Yes! 😍
Isaac Handerson
Well, it only took them, what
Four months?
Could have been worse
Charlie Spring 💛
fuck off
♡ ʚ♡ɞ ♡
Charlie Spring 💛
good night boyfriend 💛🥰
“Charlie, I’m laying literally right next to you,” Nick said amused as he lowered down his phone to look at his boyfriend.
Charlie giggled. He was drunker than he probably realised and Nick was extremely infatuated with him. “I know, I just like writing it. And saying it too. Good night, boyfriend.”
Nick dropped his phone on Charlie’s bedside table, doing the same with Charlie’s, before taking Charlie’s arm and wrapping it around himself. He liked being the little spoon, sue him.
“Good night, boy who is a friend.”
“Nick,” Charlie’s whines made him giggle. Nick lifted his head enough to reach Charlie’s lips, giving them a light peck.
“Good night, boyfriend,” and Charlie sighed, snuggling in closer.
Nick’s New Year's wish had just come true, after all. He would get to kiss his boyfriend for the whole year, and many more to come.